UEFA Champions League 2018-18: The winners and losers of the Round of 16 draw

UEFA Champions League trophy
UEFA Champions League trophy

Winners: Roma

AS Roma will be taking on Porto
AS Roma will be taking on Porto

There were reports that there was a big celebration at the Roma training ground after being drawn against Porto. Finishing second in the group meant that Roma could have come up against the likes of Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Roma have been underwhelming in Serie A so far, sitting at 7th. So the celebrations were understandable. Porto are a formidable opponent and were impressive in the group stages, finishing with 16 points out of a possible 18.

Roma may have been handed a relatively easier draw, but the road gets tough from then on, especially if they are to match last season's results.


Losers: Manchester United

Newly appointed manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (on the right)
Newly appointed manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (on the right)

Solskjaer's side have been handed the worst possible draw. Manchester United fans may have been praying for Mourinho's ex-club Porto, but instead have been drawn against the team everyone wants to avoid: Paris Saint-Germain.

It is hard to imagine Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof taking on the front-three of Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani, and Neymar for 180 minutes.The shambolic and poor defensive record of United this season will have the front line of PSG feasting.

United are a long long way off causing an upset based on current form. But with two months to go for the first leg at Old Trafford, Solskjaer has a task on his hands. He has two months to fine-tune his side, and impose his methods for the big game.

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